Our History

It really is a miracle that we were able to pull it off at all!

In a nutshell–In 2005,we were a small group of codependent parents—Moms and Dads against Meth–who suddenly found ourselves overwhelmed by the problems that arise when you have kids who are using methamphetamine. Our kids were in and out of treatment, jail and trouble, and we were willing to do whatever it took to make the madness stop. 

The Mission of Moms and Dads against Meth is to stop methamphetamine and other drug abuse through education, awareness, and community outreach activities. 

Among other things, we designed a “metheducation” display and toted it around to schools, outdoor events, county fairs and anyplace else we were asked to go to educate people about the dangers and consequence of methamphetamine abuse. We started a support group for addicts and friends and family of addicts, which led to the discussion of opening Butterfly House, a transitional sober house for women. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but we thought we could do anything, so we did. 

In 2007,we purchased an old (circa 1870) Victorian- style home in St. Croix Falls Wisconsin. The house was in foreclosure and needed a bit of renovation. With the help of many volunteers, we painted, stripped wallpaper, repaired walls, cleaned carpets, replaced electrical wiring and tidied up the yard. The Western Wisconsin Community Action Program did an energy audit and replaced the hot water heater and boiler, insulated the walls, replaced all of the windows, sealed the foundation, vented the basement, removed the old knob and tube wiring, and did other repairs to ensure that the house was safe, “up to code” and energy efficient. So many good people came together to help and we certainly would not have been able to do it without them.

We welcomed our first residents on May 1, 2007. Out of necessity, we learned how to write an acceptable grant request and have been able to keep the house open through a combination of grants, donations, fundraising activities and residency fees.

In 2016,we opened the doors to Phase II Recovery House which is a residence that offers a “bridge” from the structured program of Butterfly House to independence in the community. Butterfly House and Phase II Recovery House are the primary community outreach projects of Moms and Dads against Meth, Inc. 

The Mission of Butterfly House is to provide a safe, sober residence for women in recovery from alcohol or other drug dependency while introducing sober living skills, peer-to-peer fellowship and support and educational experiences that will aid them in the transition back into their families and communities.

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*Wings of Hope Quilt–Rainbow colored “Broken Dishes” blocks surround an incandescent butterfly, signifying the disharmony and broken-ness that surrounds the spirit in active addiction. The rainbow colors used in this quilt symbolize the hope that comes with every rainbow, the promise of sunlight after the darkness of the storm. The Broken Dishes blocks were made from the scraps left from a wedding quilt that I made with great love for a friend’s daughter. The fabric for the butterfly and the prairie points on the border of the quilt was purchased on a dark day, my mood matching the deeper hues of blue, purple and black. I bought it hoping that I might bring me the desire to quilt again, after a long hiatus from it, but it sat, unused for a long time. I was inspired to create this quilt by the Butterfly House; by women I hope will move from their own deep hues of despair to the brighter hues of an abundant life. This quilt is dedicated to the women who will warm the Butterfly House with laughter and tears as they work to discover the rainbow-hued butterfly within themselves.      

–Mary Francis Hubbell—quilter and mom